Remicade update

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Hi there,

I just wanted to drop a little update on how my treatment is going. 

I have made it through my induction phase of Remicade and am glad to report that all is going well with it. Pain wise, I am feeling relief most days. It is easy to get up out of bed and walk myself to the bathroom. I feel as though I don't have to plan my day around my pain. I can enjoy myself when I am out with friends, rather than wondering if my next step will end the fun. I am able to relax a little more, which is nice. 

I do still have bad days, which seem to bring me down emotionally. Thankfully, I have people around me who support me and allow me to get upset and cry if I need to. If there is one thing I have learned, it is that having someone with you in this is the greatest blessing you can have. Although you may still feel alone, that person (or people) can hold you and let you cry or distract you and make you laugh. They may not fully understand what you feel, but they will be there for you and understand that you are hurting both emotionally and physically.

Side effects wise, I have my appetite back most days. I'm not sure if that is a side effect or just a plus, but I like it! I love food. All kinds of it. And I love that I can really enjoy it again. However, I still do get nauseous sometimes. And those days are no fun, especially when I have to work. (Working in a restaurant, smelling all kinds of food, and being nauseous equals not a fun shift). Thankfully, I have found ways of getting around it. Making coffee instead of standing by a table that has both fish fry with vinegar and liver and onions, happens to be one of my ways of coping until the nausea passes. And there is never a short supply of tea if I need it either. Then there's my hair. And lets face it, I'm a woman, so yes I got worried about my hair. If that makes me petty, so be it. But, my hair is one of my favorite features. When I started Remicade, I learned that it is a type of chemical (chemo) therapy. I read that some people loose hair, and others find their hair thinning. For me, my hair has gotten a little thinner, but I found that it looks smother and shinier. Maybe its just me seeing it different, but that is okay with me!

I will be continuing with this treatment as long as I am seeing positive results. Today I am looking at Remicade as my liquid life. I feel like I have control of my life again. I am still sick, but maybe I don't have to feel like I am every day.

Nikki De


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